This year we did two family photo shoots of our own. One was a paid session with a photographer’s who work I very much admire. The other was a reciprocal swap with a local photographer who has truly become a friend. I love them both and I am so thrilled to have these images for my walls.
I wrote up a little perspective on both sessions and what I was thinking and hopefully give you insight on some things you can plan prior to your session.
For the session with Amanda Burse, I paid for it. Full price. Why? Especially when I knew I would have a swap session with Jennifer Shore? Many reasons. Primarily, I wanted to be a client. I wanted to hire someone who had a style different from my own, whose work I admired, and I just wanted to think nothing of shooting, and just be there. Very unintended, my session with Amanda allowed me to put myself in my client’s shoes. I now really understand the anxious emails, the wait, the urge to right-click and most important, just how it feels to part with your money.
My swap with Jennifer was a wonderful gift and I hope she and I can continue this bartering deal we have!
Still, why would I need a session – or even two? Don’t I have enough images of my own? Why would I showcase someone else’s work, on my blog, on Facebook and in my house? There was a time when I thought paying someone was crazy. I was quite sure I was “photographer enough” to never have to do that. But I’ve been doing this for long enough to know that sometimes it’s just really nice to see your family from the outside. I really wanted to be “in” some of the photographs — not just where I have set up the shot and handed my camera to someone else. I wanted to be in them as in “present” — with my family, enjoying it, not worrying that the settings would change or the image would be out of focus. It’s not to say people around me can’t photograph us, it’s just been a long time since I’ve seen a multiple images that were wall sized worthy. So that is why, even as a professional photographer, I still need to hire someone for my own family session.
Next came the questions “What to Wear?” and “Where to Shoot?” Before I could answer those questions, I really thought about what I wanted to do with these images. This is a critical step in planning your session. To shoot blindly, without advance planning, means that you might end up with a lot of “what the heck do I do with these?” images.
I knew that I wanted large images for our family room, specifically to hang over our fireplace and possibly on one of the other walls. Our family room, like most of our downstairs, is really warm, browns, exposed brick, army greens and dark yellows… outside the windows are trees, greens and a lot of pine needles! Our downstairs has a lot of texture to it, so in my head I thought canvas. We are a beach family, but that’s not what our house looks like, so for each session I wanted to bring the outside in and really sync with the same overall feel.
I also wanted some images of our family for over our bed. Although I love our wedding images, all four of us start every single morning together in bed talking, and so it feels right that all four of us be on our walls [we still have some wedding images that will stay framed on other walls]. Our bedroom is lighter and airier than downstairs and we are in the process of updating all our pieces to honey wood, or antiqued distressed white so I had a clean framed look in my mind.
I also knew that I’d give some gift prints or mini-mounts to our parents, and that it would be nice to have some framed 5X7s and 8X10s in other parts of the house. I definitely didn’t want to over do it, but if you see how little I have on my walls now, you’d understand.
Knowing my goals prior to the session really helped me think through “What to Wear?” and “Where to Shoot?”
I wanted to make the most of both sessions and do an outfit change. There’s always a chance that when you see yourself, you might think “What on EARTH made me wear that?” Two outfits provide insurance against that, it also gives you variety. For both sessions, I started with me. I knew if I didn’t like what I was wearing, I’d hate the entire session. From there I planned for the rest of the kids. For our session with Amanda, I went with two sets of clothing, all generally coordinating colors to our environment and to each other. For our session with Jennifer, I knew we were in a more stark setting (on purpose) and so I chose very basic colors, all different solids.
For locations, I wanted one session to be on River Road, because that is where I shoot all time and I love the old abandoned mansion. For the other, I found a location that I’d never shot at, but it was exactly what I was looking for and I drive by it almost daily — barren, flat light, a ton of texture. I really wanted it to look seasonally opposite to our summer session because fall and winter is {to me} as lovely as summer, and that’s sort of what my downstairs feels like. As a side note, my “Jennifer session” was also my 40th birthday, so I will always be happy with that as a gift.
So again, even though we are a big beach family and so much of our life is about surf, sun and fun, that’s not the vibe that works with my display goals [although I have BIG plans for our imaginary beach house in Quogue]. I really kept that in mind when I chose our location, our outfits and the seasonal timing of our session.
Luckily, Owen understood the importance of this to me. He might not have two years ago. He might have rolled his eyes, knowing that he’d rather be at home or fishing or just somewhere else. But he’s seen me deliver enough canvases to other families and wonder “Where are ours?” He also knew that this would make me really happy, having us all there. Too many times I come home from a session and think “those were awesome, but bummer Dad wasn’t there.” Honestly, if you are making the investment, try to include the entire family. One – two hours (give or take) might seem like a hassle, but they really are images that will last you a lifetime. I will be totally frank when I tell you that I have had family members show up and NOT want to participate, for whatever the reason. When they get their gallery either (1) they are so happy that they did because they realize what it means to have those captures or (2) they feel really bad that they didn’t (or they pouted or smirked) because they can’t get that time back to do it over. Having a willing spouse, if even for only an hour, really ties it all together.
So again, why all this planning? Primarily because Custom Photography is an investment, even for me. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Unless you can go shake a money tree that grows in your yard, you owe it to yourself and your wallet to put some thought into the execution. You don’t want to come away thinking “Why did I wear that shirt?” or “I didn’t plan this well around my kid’s schedule” or “I have no idea what I want to do with these images.”
I realize that in a tight market, spending money on photography might be a luxury that doesn’t seem affordable. Trust me. I get it. We were pressed to our limits last year, both of us starting at zero with new businesses in a bad economy. But I knew there would never be a perfect time — there are always more pressing expenses — childcare, a new heating boiler, or a new car. I tucked money away in my sock drawer for a while for my session with Amanda and was so grateful that Jennifer and I were able to swap. I think it’s important that you know this because even for me in my own occupation, it’s a big investment. And so any time you spend your hard earned dollars on this investment, not only am I extremely grateful, but I feel what it means to you. Again, I encourage any professional photographer to go through the process of being a PAYING client so they can truly understand what it means to spend.
So the takeaways…
- I love my images from both sessions.
- I am glad I planned what to wear well in advance because I realized that to achieve the look I wanted was not happening in our closets nor could I have figured it out at the last minute.
- I wish I had lost that last 10-15 pounds but that will come someday and I can’t put myself on hold until I do. I wanted to look better in some of the images, but I took some time, walked away from them, and came back and looked at that with the perspective of an outsider. Were they beautiful photography? (yes) Did she capture what I asked for? (yes) Would I look back in a few years and be eternally grateful I have the images? (yes) Did they depict my life as it is today? (yes) Did they tell the story of us? (yes) Will I ever be happy with me? (probably not) And so I decided that they were marvelously perfect imperfections and then I really fell in love with them.
- Neither session netted out with one “everyone smile and look at the camera” family portrait… and I am totally fine with that… my life is made up of all the wonderful loud, crazy, happy, trying and loving “in between” moments… and my kids are 2 & 4… and Owen and I are human. So displaying a few images together helps us tell our story and shows way more love and emotion than “one perfect image” ever would.
- Both sessions really helped me understand the overall client experience and gave me some great takeaways for things I will implement in my own business.
I am eternally grateful to both Jennifer and Amanda for capturing what they did. Here are some favs. I’ll post pictures when all my images are finally displayed in my home!
Images from Amanda Burse – La Bella Vita Photography
Images from Jennifer Shore Photography.
I love this write up- it has helped me think harder about this because a family session is something I should have already done and definitely want to do this in the near future- I know who I will call because I know you get it! Thank you!
[...] your life. Still not sure what I mean? Check out my thought process for my own family sessions below. It doesn’t meant that you need to purchase huge wall displays if you live in a home with [...]
http://www.spiritphotographers.com – Columbus, Ohio Photographer -
I LOVE your images! This family is extraordinarily beautiful and your work truly compliments them! I am a fan.